Mumbai Coastal Road Project: Transforming Commutes and Boosting Connectivity

Mumbai Coastal Road Project is an under-construction laneway in Mumbai. It is 8 8-lane, 29.3 km long expressway for Mumbai’s western coastline. Mumbai is one of the most popular and economical cities in India. It is full of people and traffic congestion issues are very common on every possible street. This Mumbai Coastal Road Project aims to solve the traffic congestion issues to provide a solution to save people’s time and fuel. It is a transformative infrastructure for the western coastline. As said, it is a 29.2km long roadway which will link the south point of Marine lines to the north point of the Kandivali. The Mumbai Coastal Road Project was approved in 2018 and still going on and expected to be completed in January 2024. It is projected that 130,000 vehicles would use it every day, expected to reduce travel time from two hours to 40 minutes which takes to drive between South Mumbai and the Western Suburbs. The project is expected to cost ₹13,060 crore, or US$1.6 billion. The first phase of the project is currently being built and spans 10.58 kilometres from the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the Princess Street overpass. In Phase 2, the project would extend 19.22 km northward from Bandra to Versova to Kandivali. This will include building a 9.6 km Bandra-Versova Sea Link, which will link to Bandra (1.17 km), Carter Road (1.80 km), and Juhu Koliwada (2.80 km).

Mumbai Coastal Road Project: Key facts

Name	Mumbai Coastal Road Project. To be named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
Project executed by	BMC
Project general consultant	AECOM
Status	Under-construction
Length	29 km
Lanes	8
Completion	June 2024
Start point	Princess Street Flyover, Marine Lines
Endpoint	Kandivali
Project cost	Rs 13,060 crore (previously estimated to be around Rs 12,700 crore)

Mumbai Coastal Road Project Phase 1-

As said, the first phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project is 10.58 km long from the Princess Street Flyover at marine lines to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli sea link. This pathway covers the land, bridges, twin tunnels and 3 interchanges of the road. It is a direct pathway. Mumbai Coastal Road Project phase 1 is estimated to cost  ₹12,721 crore (US$1.6 billion). It is said that it is the most expensive project in the BMC’s history. As we know, the Mumbai Coastal Road Project phase 1 is completed and its cost has escalated to ₹13,060 crore (US$1.6 billion) because of an increase in the GST rate on the construction.

Mumbai Coastal Road Project Phase 2 –

 As said, the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project is 19.22 km long from the Bandra end of the BWSL and Kandivali. Mumbai Coastal Road Project phase 2 is estimated to cost ₹63000 crores. The plan of the Second phase is divided into six packages. The second phase consists of a 1.66 km stretch between Bangur Nagar and Mindspace (Malad) for Package B, a 4.5 km stretch between Versova and Bangur Nagar (Goregaon) for Package A, and 3.66 km of carriageways running north and south for Packages C and D that connect Mindspace to Charkop (Kandivali). Furthermore, Package F has a 3.69 km section linking Gorai with Dahisar, and Package E includes a 3.78 km connection between Charkop and Gorai.

Potential Benefits of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project

Let’s know about the potential benefits it brings to Mumbai. Why are crores of crores rupees spent to prepare this 8-lane roadway?

• Traffic Decongestion- Traffic congestion is the primary concern which is why this project started. There is a higher possibility of reducing traffic congestion with the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. Mumbai Coastal Road Project aims to reduce travel time and provide faster routes from the north posh area to the south posh area. It will enhance overall traffic flow in Mumbai.

• Reduce Travel Time: The primary objective of the Mumbai coastal road project is to reduce the travel time between the southern and northern parts of Mumbai city. It is expected to reduce 70% of travel time. It will provide a better, faster and more direct route as compared to the existing road route.

• Enhance Connectivity: The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is anticipated to improve the connectivity from south Mumbai to north Mumbai. This connectivity will help to improve economic activities and ease the travel to residents.

• Boost Economy: This crores-based Mumbai Coastal Road Project brings economic growth to the city by creating job opportunities for the people. The whole project will be completed by various industries like construction, labour, design and many more. It brings multiple job vacancies for the city. Moreover, improved transportation will automatically increase business activities and investment in the areas. It may bring a huge change in Mumbai’s economy when it is completed.

• Tourism Promotion: There is a probability of promotion of tourism. The scenic coastal road from southern Mumbai to northern Mumbai is expected to attract tourists and locals for the breathtaking scenic view of the Arabian Sea. In addition, people avoid visiting Mumbai due to traffic congestion. Less traffic also brings tourism to the city.

• Quality of life improvement: The Mumbai Coastal Road Project aims to enhance the overall quality of life of Mumbai residents. It will provide a smoother commute, reduce travel time and bring a more organized urban environment.

• Environmental Considerations: The Mumbai coastal road project’s supporters maintain that it was constructed with sustainability in mind. Its implementation of strategies includes green space creation, mangrove preservation, and environmentally conscious construction.

• Emergency Service Accessibility: It is expected that the Mumbai coastal road project will increase emergency service accessibility, which would speed up reaction times in an emergency. When quick action is required, better transit routes are required

• Urban Planning Integration: The Mumbai coastal road project to build the coastline road is a component of larger Mumbai urban planning efforts. It is incorporated into the city’s long-term development plan, which takes into account things like population expansion, land usage, and transit requirements.

The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is very huge. There are many benefits of it, but many legal Challenges and Controversies are also linked with it.

FAQs:-

1. What is the Mumbai Coastal Road Project?
– Answer: The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is an ongoing construction project aimed at building an 8-lane expressway along Mumbai’s western coastline to ease traffic congestion.

 

2. How long is the Mumbai Coastal Road Project?
– Answer: The entire project spans approximately 29.2 kilometers, connecting Marine Lines in the south to Kandivali in the north.

 

3. When was the Mumbai Coastal Road Project approved?
– Answer: The project was approved in 2018 and is expected to be completed in January 2024.

 

4. What is the purpose of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project?
– Answer: The project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Mumbai, reduce travel time between different parts of the city, and improve overall connectivity.

 

5. How much is the Mumbai Coastal Road Project expected to cost?
– Answer: The estimated cost of the project is ₹13,060 crore, or approximately US$1.6 billion.

 

6. What is the status of Phase 1 of the project?
– Answer: Phase 1, which spans 10.58 kilometers from Marine Lines to the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, has been completed.

 

7. What is the estimated cost of Phase 2 of the project?
– Answer: Phase 2 of the project is estimated to cost ₹63,000 crores.

 

8. How will the Mumbai Coastal Road Project benefit residents?
– Answer: The project aims to reduce traffic congestion, decrease travel time, improve connectivity, boost the economy, promote tourism, and enhance overall quality of life.

 

9. What environmental considerations are being taken into account?
– Answer: The project includes strategies for green space creation, mangrove preservation, and environmentally conscious construction practices.

 

10. Are there any legal challenges associated with the project?
– Answer: Yes, the project has faced legal challenges and controversies, but it is still moving forward with ongoing construction efforts.